Warm and Thankful
by Chris D’Angelo

For the last four years, Les and Mary Burton spent winters scraping ice off the inside of the windows of their three campers nestled up Benewah Creek Road.

“We used to sit around, huddled up in those little throw blankets,” Mr. Burton remembers, with nothing more than a small space heater to keep them warm. Their home, or homes - depending on how you look at it - had no running water and the couple used a portable outhouse as a bathroom, often traveling to town to shower. But today, Mr. Burton - the former Potlatch mill worker who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in July 2008 - lives with his wife in a comfortable, warm, handicap-accessible house. The three campers - which previously served as the couple’s bedroom, living room and kitchen - have been replaced.

For this, the Burtons have the Northwest Classic Motorcycle Club and countless private donors to thank. “It was when he was diagnosed that the (motorcycle) club decided to build him a house,” Mrs. Burton said. “We had planned on doing it when he retired. Then he got diagnosed and everything changed.”

Mrs. Burton said the club, which Mr. Burton has been a member of for six years, is a perfect example of what friendship and brotherhood are all about, with numerous members often sacrificing precious riding days to help during the two-year project.

“I think it’s nice that the guys care enough about their members to do this kind of thing,” Mrs. Burton said. “These guys didn’t just desert him.”

The new 716-square-foot home, which the couple moved into last month, features a bedroom with a Murphy bed, full-size bathroom and kitchen, washer and dryer, a large living room, storage and much more.

And the best part is all the rooms are wheelchair accessible and attached to one another; no more walking outside to get from the kitchen to the bedroom. “It’s unbelievable,” said Mr. Burton, adding that his favorite part is being able to get in and out without having to fall down, a feat that proved difficult at his previous residence as his health continued to deteriorate.

Thanks to a large number of people pitching in, the Burton’s house was finished just in time for winter. “If we hadn’t had the house built this year we’d be in a rental in town,” Mrs. Burton said. “There was no way we could have stayed another winter in there.”

After “camping” for four years - as Mr. Burton calls it - the couple has found themselves in a “real home;” a place built by friends for Mr. Burton to live out the rest of his life. “It’s a pretty wonderful community,” Mr. Burton said of St. Maries and the surrounding areas. “They really go above and beyond when a fellow resident needs help.”

Local residents came to Mr. Burton’s aid after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS - a chronic illness that is both debilitating and fast-moving. In July 2008, at age 56, he was given between two and five years to live. In September 2008, the community held a yard sale to help pay for project materials and a US Bank account was set up for donations. Northwest Classic Motorcycle Club of Spokane coordinated the construction of the house itself. “Lots of people pitched in,” said NWCMC member Gary “Bootmaker” McGlasson. “We had a blast...it really was a good time.”

While the Burtons are thankful for the new home, they say it has been difficult being on the receiving end of charity. In addition to his 17 years at Potlatch, Mr. Burton volunteered as a hunter safety instructor and was active in the Elks Computers for Kids program. He also helped purchase dresses for the annual Spring Prom Dresses for Young Ladies program, which Mrs. Burton ran for eight years. “We’ve always been involved in some sort of giving and I never gave much thought to what those people we were giving to felt. It’s both hard and humbling,” Mrs. Burton said. “We are very thankful.”

The Burtons also said they are excited that two of Mrs. Burton’s children, daughter Charlotte Courson and son Frank Ciliberti, have moved to the area to help care for Mr. Burton. The family would like to extend a thank you to those who donated either time or money during the project, which include but is not limited to: members of the NWCMC, Independent Christian Bikers, David Reddekopp, “Lick” at Highside Custom, Bill Burton, George Akers (ALSSO), Andy Martz, “Grover” and many more.

by Chris D’Angelo
of the St. Maries Gazette Record